15 a And more, &c.] Caligula was
one of the Emperors of Rome, son of Germanicus and Agrippina. He
would needs pass for a god, and had the heads of the ancient
statues of the gods taken off; and his own placed on in their
stead; and used to stand between the statues of Castor and Pollux
to be worshipped; and often bragged of lying with the Moon.Back

43 b And us'd &c.] Philters were
love potions, reported to be much in request in former ages; but
our true Knight-Errant Hero made use of no other but what his
noble atchievements by his sword produced.Back

52 c To th' Ordeal, &c.] Ordeal
trials were, when supposed criminals, to discover their
innocence, went over several red-hot coulter irons. These were
generally such whose chastity was suspected, as the vestal
virgins, &c. Back

93 d So Spanish Heroes, &c.] The
young Spaniards signalize their valour before the Spanish ladies
at bull feasts, which often prove very hazardous, and sometimes
fatal to them. It is performed by attacking of a wild bull, kept
on purpose, and let loose at the combatant; and he that kills
most, carries the laurel, and dwells highest in the ladies'
favour. Back

137 e To pawn, &c.] His exterior
ears were gone before, and so out of danger; but by inward ears
is here meant his conscience.
Back

252 f Loud as, &c.] Stentrophon:
A speaking trumpet, by which the voice may be heard at a great
distance, very useful at sea.
Back

276 g As if th' had, &c.] This
alludes to some abject letchers, who used to be disciplined with
amorous lashes by their mistresses.
Back

323 h Bewitch Hermetick Men, &c.]
Hermes Trismegistus, an Egyptian Philosopher, and said to have
lived Anno Mundi 2076, in the reign of Ninus, after Moses. He was
a wonderful philosopher and proved that there was but one God,
the creator of all things; and was the author of several most
excellent and useful inventions. But those Hermetick Men here
mentioned, though the pretended sectators of this great man, are
nothing else but a wild and extravagant sort of enthusiasts, who
make a hodge-podge of Religion and Philosophy, and produce
nothing but what is the object of every considering person's
contempt. Back

326 i Potosi.] Potosi is a city of
Peru, the mountains whereof afford great quantities of the finest
silver in all the Indies.
Back

603 k More wretched, &c.]
Villainage was an antient tenure, by which the tenants were
obliged to perform the most abject and slavish services for their
lords. Back

639 l Like Indian Widows, &c.]
The Indian women, richly attired, are carried in a splendid and
pompous machine to the funeral pile where the bodies of their
deceased husbands are to be consumed, and there voluntarily throw
themselves into it, and expire; and such as refuse, their virtue
is ever after suspected, and they live in the utmost contempt.Back

647 m For as the Pythagorean,
&c.] It was the opinion of Pythogoras and his followers,
that, the soul transmigrated (as they termed it) into all the
diverse species of animals; and so was differently disposed and
affected, according to their different natures and constitutions.Back

707 n For tho' Chineses, &c.] The
Chinese men of quality, when their wives are brought to bed, are
nursed and tended with as much care as women here, and are
supplied with the best strengthening and nourishing diet, in
order to qualify them for future services.Back

751 o Transform them into Rams,
&c.] The Sirens according to the poets, were three
sea-monsters, half women and half fish: their names were
Parthenope, Lignea and Leucosia. Their usual residence was about
the island of Sicily, where, by the charming melody of their
voices, they used to detain those that heard them, and then
transform them into some sort of brute animals.Back

755 p By the Husband Mandrake,
&c.] Naturalists report, that if a male and female Mandrake
lie near each other, there will often be heard a sort of
murmuring noise. Back

797 q The World is but two Parts,
&c.] The equinoctial divides the globe into North and South.Back

819 r Unless among the Amazons,
&c.] The Amazons were women of Scythia, of heroick and great
atchievements. They suffered no men to live among them; but once
every year used to have conversation with men, of the
neighbouring countries, by which if they had a male child, they
presently either killed or crippled it; but if a female, they
brought it up to the use of arms, and burnt off one breast,
leaving the other to suckle girls.
Back

865 s The Nymphs of chaste Diana's
&c.] Diana's Nymphs, all of whom vowed perpetual virginity,
and were much celebrated for the exact observation of their vow.Back

877 u The Reason of it is &c.]
Demanding the clergy of her belly, which, for the reasons
aforesaid, is pleaded in excuse by those who take the liberty to
oblige themselves and friends.
Back

1086 w As IRONSIDE or HARDIKNUTE,
&c.] Two famous and valiant princes of this country; the one
a Saxon, the other a Dane.
Back

1131 x But those that trade in
Geomancy, &c.] The Lapland Magi. The Laplanders are an
idolatrous people, far North: and it is very credibly reported,
by authors and persons that have travelled in their country, that
they do perform things incredible by what is vulgarly called
Magick. Back

1158 y To burning with, &c.] An
allusion to cauterizing in apoplexies, &c.Back

1321 z The Queen of Night, &c.]
The moon influences the tides, and predominates over all humid
bodies; and persons distempered in mind are called Lunaticks.Back

1344 a And growing to thy Horse,
&c.] The Centaurs were a people of Thessaly, and supposed to
be the first managers of horses; and the neighbouring inhabitants
never having seen any such thing before, fabulously reported them
monsters, half men and half horses.
Back

1423 b Sir (quoth the Voice) &c.]
Sophi is at present the name of the kings of Persia, not
superadded, as Pharaoh was to the kings of Egypt, but the name of
the family itself, and religion of Hali; whose descendants by
Fatimas, Mahomet's daughter, took the name of Sophi.Back

1451 c Wear wooden Peccadillos
&c.] Peccadillos were stiff pieces that went about the neck;
and round about the shoulders, to pin the band, worn by persons
nice in dressing; his wooden one is a pillory.Back

1483 d Hence 'tis Possessions,
&c.] Criminals, in their indictments, are charged with not
having the fear of God before their eyes, but being led by the
instigation of the Devil.
Back

1521 e When to a legal Utlegation,
&c.] When they return the excommunication into the Chancery,
there is issued out a writ against the person.Back

1524 f Distrain on Soul, &c.]
Excommunication, which deprives men from being Members of the
visible church, and formally delivers them up to the Devil.Back